An environment where innovative thinking is encouraged

Joseph Scully, Head of Software Engineering at SEB Life International shares his insight into what makes SEB an attractive tech employer.

With a degree in Business Computing from TUD and a strategic mindset honed through a master's in Strategic Management, Joe has built a career focused on transforming technical landscapes and driving digital innovation.

"I started my career at IBM right after college, which gave me a solid foundation in software development and enterprise systems," he explains. "When the opportunity to join SEB LI came up in 2016, what really attracted me was the pace of work—it's fast enough to keep me engaged and constantly learning, always challenging myself with new tech and approaches in what was a slightly smaller environment."

So, tell us about your role.

Joe heads up the Software Engineering department at SEB LI, leading several software engineering and IT Change Management teams that are at the heart of the bank's digital transformation journey.

"A big part of what we do focuses on modernising SEB LI's tech landscape," he says. "Over the past few years, we've been building our teams, improving our practices, and transforming our systems into a more modern, scalable IT ecosystem. We really pride ourselves on our thoughtful design and architecture principles that guide everything we do."

What makes the work particularly engaging is the diversity of technologies his teams work with.

"We're not tied to specific platforms or languages—we look at the wide range of available technologies as tools for the job, picking the right solution for each challenge. In doing this, I think it has led us to be quite innovative in the ways we approach software engineering"

How has your career evolved at SEB Life International?

"During my time here, I've had the opportunity to explore different sides of IT, moving through various roles from Software Engineer to Solution Architect, and now heading up the Software Engineering department. While working at SEB LI, I also completed a various training and learning programmes —SEB LI has been incredibly supportive of this through different learning opportunities they've offered."

One of the most rewarding aspects of his journey has been witnessing the evolution of systems and approaches that make tangible improvements for both colleagues and customers.

What do you enjoy most about working at SEB Life International?

"The best part of my role is definitely the autonomy and authority we have—not just to guide our own learning and development, but to actually influence the strategy behind SEB LI's IT and digital initiatives. This creates an environment where innovative thinking is encouraged and where we can see the real impact of our work, which is brilliant."

The culture at SEB Liife International has been a significant factor in his professional satisfaction.

"SEB Liife International's culture is fantastically supportive in giving people the space to be heard and to make a real difference in their day-to-day work. There's genuine appreciation for expertise, no matter where it comes from in the organisation, and the collaboration across the entire company is excellent."

How do you approach innovation in your area?

For emerging technologies like AI, Joe's department has created specific opportunities to explore their potential.

"We run hackathons and give our teams dedicated innovation time to experiment with new technologies and approaches. These have been great—they're a fun way to play with new tech, meet new people, and foster a culture of continuous learning."

Looking ahead, he's enthusiastic about what's to come: "I'm really excited about our future growth plans and continuing to build a high-performing software engineering department that can help drive us forward."